The 2024 presidential election concluded with Donald Trump’s victory. While the outcome was widely anticipated, analyzing voter turnout compared to the 2020 election reveals insightful trends in American political engagement. This article explores the key statistics surrounding voter participation in both elections, examining the popular vote, voter turnout rates, and contributing factors.
2024 vs. 2020: A Tale of Two Elections
Donald Trump secured his second term with 77,284,118 votes, representing 49.8% of the popular vote. While this is the second-highest vote count in U.S. history, it falls short of Joe Biden’s 81,284,666 votes in 2020. Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic candidate, garnered 74,999,166 votes, or 48.3% of the total.
Over 156 million Americans cast their ballots in 2024, marking the second-largest voter turnout in absolute numbers. This election was only the second time in history that more than 140 million people participated in a presidential race. However, the 63.9% turnout rate in 2024 fell short of the record-breaking 66.6% in 2020, the highest since 1900.
Factors Influencing Voter Turnout
Several factors contribute to fluctuations in voter turnout. The 2020 election, held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a surge in mail-in and early voting, potentially boosting participation. In 2024, early and mail-in voting remained popular, with 88,380,679 ballots cast this way. However, the overall lower turnout suggests other influences were at play.
Wisconsin led the nation with a 76.93% turnout, while Hawaii trailed with just 50%. Five of the six battleground states that flipped from Biden to Trump in 2024 exceeded the national average turnout, indicating high engagement in these crucial areas.
A Deeply Divided Nation: Narrow Margins of Victory
While some initially labeled Trump’s 2024 victory a landslide, closer examination reveals a much tighter race. His 312 electoral votes slightly surpassed Biden’s 2020 count but paled in comparison to historical landslide victories. A shift of just 229,726 votes in key states could have altered the outcome, highlighting the persistent political divisions in the United States.
The 2024 election marked the tenth consecutive presidential race decided by a single-digit popular vote margin, underscoring the enduring trend of close elections.
Congressional Outcomes and Representation
Republicans secured control of both the House and Senate in 2024, albeit with slim majorities. This narrow margin could pose challenges for legislative action. The 119th Congress will include 150 women, a slight decrease from the previous session. Notably, no women will chair House committees for the first time since 2006.
The incoming Congress will also see record representation for Black lawmakers, but a slight dip in Hispanic representation. Several historic firsts were achieved, including the simultaneous election of two Black women senators and the election of the first openly transgender House member.
Conclusion: 2024 Voter Turnout in Perspective
While the 2024 election saw robust voter participation with over 156 million votes cast, it fell short of the record-breaking turnout in 2020. This underscores the complex interplay of factors influencing voter behavior. While early and mail-in voting remain prevalent, the decrease in overall turnout suggests the need for further analysis into the evolving dynamics of American electoral participation. The close margins of victory and the continuing trend of single-digit popular vote differences reaffirm the deep political divisions shaping the American landscape.
